Forced landing on a road
Private pilot · Who you talk to: Approach control
The only open surface in reach is a rural road. Roads are usually lined with power or telephone lines that you may not see until short final.
What this case adds
- Look for the poles that hold the wires before you commit.
- Plan the approach to clear the wires and anything beside the road.
- Watch for traffic on the road.
Critical fails
- Letting airspeed drift more than 10 knots from best glide.
- Stalling, spinning or flying into terrain while maneuvering low, for example a turn back to the runway without the altitude for it.
- Stretching the glide over obstacles short of the field instead of planning an approach with margin.
- Losing control of the airplane while working the checklist: positive control has priority over configuration and checklist tasks.
The full checklist of this mold, step by step with its official sources: Engine failure: Mayday and forced landing.
Sources
- FAA-H-8083-3C, Airplane Flying Handbook, Chapter 18: Emergency Procedures https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/airplane_handbook/19_afh_ch18.pdf
Making Synapses is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by the FAA. The FAA documents are named and linked only to describe what this mold practices; always follow your airplane's POH/AFM and your instructor.
Engine failure: Mayday and forced landing